How Big Is a 120 × 120 Cross Stitch Pattern?
A 120 × 120 pattern makes a 8.57 × 8.57 inch square on 14ct. The short axis of 8 × 10 is smaller by 0.57 inches, so the listed choice is 11 × 14. Moving to 16ct gives 7.50 × 7.50 inches and brings the bare image inside 8 × 10.
Read the shared measurement, opening and thread assumptions before using these planning comparisons.
An eight-inch opening is the useful boundary for this square
The count threshold for the unbordered image is 15.00 effective crosses per inch. Fourteen count is below it, while sixteen count is above it. This explains the frame change without rounding an 8.57 inch picture down to eight inches.
At 16ct, an 8 × 10 opening leaves a maximum equal surround of 0.25 inches per side. Eighteen count increases it to 0.67. Choose the cloth according to the space you want around the square and a test of thread coverage, rather than selecting the smallest calculated footprint automatically.
120 × 120: frame choices before and after a surround
| Aida count | Stitched image (in) | Smallest listed opening, image only | Image +2 in per side (in) | Smallest listed opening, with surround |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11ct | 10.91 × 10.91 | 11 × 14 in | 14.91 × 14.91 | 16 × 20 in |
| 14ct | 8.57 × 8.57 | 11 × 14 in | 12.57 × 12.57 | 16 × 20 in |
| 16ct | 7.50 × 7.50 | 8 × 10 in | 11.50 × 11.50 | 12 × 16 in |
| 18ct | 6.67 × 6.67 | 8 × 10 in | 10.67 × 10.67 | 11 × 14 in |
Decisions for this 120 × 120 chart
Keep an 8 × 10 frame without losing part of the chart
A 120 × 120 chart on 16ct fits as a bare rectangle, but a two-inch surround expands it to 11.50 × 11.50 inches. The corresponding listed opening is 12 × 16. A narrow reveal and a broad mat are separate framing decisions, even when the stitched coordinates remain identical.
The 16ct cut with no visible surround is 13.50 × 13.50 inches; with that two-inch surround it is 17.50 × 17.50. Those extra inches belong to the display plan. They should not disappear when a fabric seller labels a precut by an approximate size. Compare both measured sides before trimming.
Check what the pattern means by a 120 × 120 box
A filled grid has 14,400 crosses. The 70% illustration contains 10,080 and returns 5.67 pooled skein equivalents on the specified 14ct two-strand setup. Neither the box dimensions nor a pattern thumbnail establishes actual coverage.
If a designer adds lettering outside that box, recalculate using the full new width and height. If the lettering stays inside unused background, keep the box but replace the assumed coverage with counted stitches. This distinguishes a physical-size change from a thread-use change and avoids adding a generic reserve twice.
Cut dimensions and whole-image working openings
| Fabric / stitching | Image (in) | Image (cm) | Cut, +3 in each side (in) | Cut (cm) | Hoop diagonal (in) | Q-Snap clear rectangle (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11ct Aida | 10.91 × 10.91 in | 27.71 × 27.71 cm | 16.91 × 16.91 in | 42.95 × 42.95 cm | 15.43 | 10.91 × 10.91 |
| 14ct Aida | 8.57 × 8.57 in | 21.77 × 21.77 cm | 14.57 × 14.57 in | 37.01 × 37.01 cm | 12.12 | 8.57 × 8.57 |
| 16ct Aida | 7.50 × 7.50 in | 19.05 × 19.05 cm | 13.50 × 13.50 in | 34.29 × 34.29 cm | 10.61 | 7.50 × 7.50 |
| 18ct Aida | 6.67 × 6.67 in | 16.93 × 16.93 cm | 12.67 × 12.67 in | 32.17 × 32.17 cm | 9.43 | 6.67 × 6.67 |
| 25ct evenweave over 2 | 9.60 × 9.60 in | 24.38 × 24.38 cm | 15.60 × 15.60 in | 39.62 × 39.62 cm | 13.58 | 9.60 × 9.60 |
| 28ct linen over 2 | 8.57 × 8.57 in | 21.77 × 21.77 cm | 14.57 × 14.57 in | 37.01 × 37.01 cm | 12.12 | 8.57 × 8.57 |
| 32ct linen over 2 | 7.50 × 7.50 in | 19.05 × 19.05 cm | 13.50 × 13.50 in | 34.29 × 34.29 cm | 10.61 | 7.50 × 7.50 |
Coverage and strand choices for 14,400 positions
| Coverage | Full crosses | Aida / strands | Pooled skein equivalents | Recalculate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100% | 14,400 | 14ct / 2 | 8.09 | Open 100%, 14ct, 2 strands → |
| 100% | 14,400 | 18ct / 1 | 3.15 | Open 100%, 18ct, 1 strand → |
| 70% | 10,080 | 14ct / 2 | 5.67 | Open 70%, 14ct, 2 strands → |
| 70% | 10,080 | 18ct / 1 | 2.20 | Open 70%, 18ct, 1 strand → |
| 40% | 5,760 | 14ct / 2 | 3.24 | Open 40%, 14ct, 2 strands → |
| 40% | 5,760 | 18ct / 1 | 1.26 | Open 40%, 18ct, 1 strand → |
Compare the neighboring chart sizes
These are the nearest smaller and larger areas among the linked size guides; signed changes are relative to 120 × 120 on 14ct with the same cutting margin.
Questions about this size chart
Why does a 120 x 120 cross stitch pattern miss 8 × 10 on 14ct?
The square's side is 8.57 inches, exceeding the eight-inch short axis by 0.57. A minimum density of 15.00 effective crosses per inch is needed for the bare image.
Does 16ct leave space for a mat around 120x120 in 8 × 10?
It leaves at most 0.25 inches of equal surround per side, before overlap. A two-inch surround produces 11.50 × 11.50 inches and needs a larger opening.
Should I expand a 120x120 box when adding names or lettering?
Expand the dimensions only if the added stitching extends beyond the original box. Lettering inside its empty background changes the count of filled stitches, so update coverage or enter counted crosses rather than enlarging the physical footprint unnecessarily.